Machine for separating and assembling crackers.



PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

W. H. BUDD, JRV MACHINE POR SEPARATING AND ASSEMBLING GRAGKERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.10, 1903.

8 SHEETS-BHBBT 1.

N0 MODEL.

l A TORNEY THE NoRms Pernis e0, pHoro-uma. wAsmNcmm, n, c,

PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

W. H. Bunn, Jn.' MACHINE FOR SBPARATING AND Ass-EMBLING GRAGKERS.

APPLIUATIGN FILED AUG. 10; 1003.

3 SHEETS-SHEET il.

F0 MODEL.

l INVENTOR flzfam 31u21? No, 760,417. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

Y W.V H. BUDD, JB.

MACHINE FOR SBPARATING AND ASSEMBLING GRAGKERS. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA UG. 10, 1903.

WITNESSES www ` INVENTOR @@@zf ,I

| wAsuINGTnN. u. c

K ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented. May 24, 1904.

WILLIAM H. BUIID,`JR., OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING AND ASSEMBLING CRACKERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 760,417, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed August l0, 1903. Serial No. 169,052. (No model.)

My invention relates to the improvement of cracker stackers or assembling machines, and has particular relation to mechanism for assembling' what are known as square crackers. f

The objects of my invention are to provide a machine embodying improved means for separating a sheet 0f connected square crackers into sections and collecting or assembling the same in such relative positions as to permit of their being readily and conveniently packed and to produce certain improvements in details of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated `in the accompanying drawings, in which y Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. V2 is aplan view of the greater Aportion of the same, omitting for the sake of clearness in illustration the gearing and the breaker-brushes and their rolls. Fig.` 3 is a detail view in perspective of a portion of one ofthe conveying-aprons employed on the feed portion of the machine. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the machine on line m m of Fig. Q. Fig. 5 is a detail View in perspective of a cam employed in the manner hereinafter described. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section on line 5:/ r/ of Fig. 1, omitting' the gearing. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the receiving or delivery portion of the machine; and Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective of one of the sheets of crackers, showing the same prior to the breaking of the same into sections in the manner hereinafter de scribed.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I employ a suitable supporting-framework comprising pairs of opposing uprights 1 and 2 and intermediate `posite ends of the roll 11.

horizontal frame-bars 3 and 4. The rear frame standards 1 are, as shown, of greater height than the forward frame-standards 2, and be tween-these forward and rear standards are arranged opposing standards 5, the upper ends of which are connected with the upper portions of the standards 1 by horizontal hars 6. This frame construction, however, may be varied as desired.

7 represents the parallel side bars of a feedframe, said side bars being connected with and supported from the upper ends of the standards 1 and further supported by inclined brace-bars 8, running from the outer portions of said feedfframe side bars to thelower portions of said standards 1. In theirlower portions the side bars 7 are connected by atransverse plate 9, the forward termination of which is in rear of the standards 1. In front of the forward end of the plate 9 is journaled between the side bars 7 a roller 10,and a similar roller 11 is journaled between the forward ends of said side bars. At the rear end of the feed-frame is journaled a transverse roller 12, and over the rollers 10, 11, and 12 runs an endless apron or belt 13. As indicated more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings,` the belt or apron 13 has each .of its longer edges connected with an endless sprocket chain or belt, the latter being indicated at 14 and adapted, as shown, to run within the feed-frame adjacent to the side bars thereof. These endless chains run over sprocket-wheels 15, carriedfo'nlop- In the forward portion of the feed-frame the side bars 7 are connected by transverse bars 16,`th1e`latter, as

well as the rolls 10 and 11,`bein`gu`ivibn a somewhat higher plane than the partitionor plate 9. .'These bars 16 are' connected by longitiidinally-arranged parallel rods 17, over'which the apron ltravels. rIhe upper sidesof the frame side bars 7 are connected in the forward portions thereof by transverse bars n18, the latter having formed near each of their ends longitudinal slots 19, through which slots pass adjustable bolts or pins 20. These bolts or pins engage guide-bars 21, which are arranged longitudinally between the side framebars 7 and above the apron 13. As indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings and also by dotted IOO ' ranged base-board 23, which has its rear and higher end portion bearing upon a supporting-wheel 24, which is preferably carried from an arm or` standard y25 rising from a cross frame-piece 6a. The lower and forward end of the distributer base-board bears upon a suitable pivoted wheel 26. The upper side of the board 23 has mounted thereon a grooved or channeled distributing-body 27, the channes of which converge toward their upper en s.

Mounted between the upper portions of the standards 5 is the upturned rearwardly-curved head of a cracker discharging or conductor body 28, the latter inclining downwardly and rearwardly from its head portion and consisting of a casing or box-like body having parallel conduits 28, the upper open portions of which are adapted, respectively, to communicate with the lower ends of the channels 27 l of the distributing-body 27. As indicated in the drawings, the discharging-body 28 has secured to its lower 'end portion and upper side a number of downwardly extending spring-strips 29, one extending opposite each of the conduits 28a.

The distributing base-board 23 has pivotally connected with its under side a rod 30, which in its forward portion is fulcrumed to the under side of the frame-bar 6 and which at its rear end carries a pair of downwardlyprojecting rollers 31. These rollers loosely embrace the marginal portion of a earn-disk 32, carried on a suitably-'journaled transverse power-shaft 33, said power-shaft also carrying a belt or driving wheel 34. vAs indicated more clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the cam-disk 32 is provided with Va radially-fluted surface.

Supported fromthe forward portion of the machine and extending forwardly therefrom is a cracker receiver frame comprising parallel side bars 35Xt and an intervening longitudinally-arranged'partition-plate 35. Through the medium of parallel longitudinal strips 36 the receiving-frame is divided above the partition-plate 35 with longitudinal channels, one for each of the conduits 28a. Running above and Abelow the partition 35 of the deliveryframeis an endless belt or apron 37, the llatter running over front and rear pivoted rolls 38 and 39. The roll 38 carries on one of its outer ends a ratchet-wheel 40, with the teeth of which engages a pawl 41, which is pivotally connected with a pawl-operating rod 42, the rear end of which is pivoted eccentrically to a disk 43, carried on the power-shaft 33. This power-shaft also carries a sprocket-wheel 44. On the outer end 0f the roller 11 is carried a sprocket-wheel 45, which is connected with the sprocket-wheel 44 by a chain belt 46. The spindle or outer end portion of the roll 11 also carries a sprocket-wheel 47.

Journaled in suitable bearings 48, which rise from the forward portions of the side bars 7 of the feed-frame, are the spindle-like ends of a transverse brush-carrying shaft 49 this shaft being indicated more clearly in Fig. 6 ofthe drawings, and, as shown in said figure, the shaft is provided at intervals with circular brushes 50, these brushes being of such circumference and arrangement as to bear against the apron 13 and depress the latter, as shown in Fig. 6, between the rods 17. In rear of the roll 10 and above the forward end of the partition 9 I journal the shaft 51 of a brush 51', corresponding in construction with the brush 50, and on the brush-shafts 49 and 51 are carried, respectively, sprocket-wheels 52 and 53. Between these sprocket-wheels is pivotally mounted from one of the side bars of the feed-frame ashaft 54, on which are carried inner and outer sprocket-wheels 55 and 56.

57 represents an endless chain belt which runs over and connects the sprocketwheels 52 and 53 and also runs upon the inner sprocketwheel 55. The sprocket-wheels 47 and 56 are connected by a chain belt 58.

In operation rotary motion is imparted to the power-shaft through a belt running over the wheel 34, and through the chain belts 46,

A58, and 57 rotary motion is imparted to the shaftll andthe brush-rolls 49 and 51. At each revolution ofthe cam-disk 32 it is obvious that the ratchet-wheel 40, and consequently the roll 38, will have imparted thereto a partial revolution. The square crackers, which come from the oven in sheets, such as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, are fed onto the forwardly-moving belt 0r apron 13, and when carried by said apron to a point beneath the brush 51 said brush will exert such pressure on said sheet of crackers as to break the latter into transverse rows. Vhen the strips of united crackers thus formed are subjected to the pressure of the brushes 50, it is obvious that the same will be broken apart on their adjoining lines by the pressure of said brushes 50. The crackers thus separated are carried forward by the belt 13 and delivered into the channels of the distributerbody 27. This distributer-body is subjected to a slight lateral vibration, imparted by the contact of the cam-disk 32 with the rollers 31 of the rod 30, such vibration tending to insure the feeding of the crackers into the conduits of the discharging-body 28, from which IOO the crackers are delivered into the channels of the delivery-frame. In dropping into said delivery-frame channels it will be understood that the crackers fall one upon the other, and at each movement imparted to the apron 37 as heretofore described said crackers will be carried toward the forward end of the deliveryi"rame, and when a suflicient number of the crackers have accumulated within the channels they may readily be straightened and collected and removed in stacks for packin U. In Fig. 7 of the drawings I haveshown the crackers, which are indicated at in the positions which the same assume after being straightened up by hand and ready for removal. It will be understood that the first breaking of the cracker sheet described will be facilitated by the fact that the sheet is directed upward on an incline from the forward end of the partition 9 to the roller l0, the transverse break in the sheet occurring at the point where the same begins its upward movement. Y

From the construction and operation which I have described it will be understood that a comparatively simple, reliable, and effective mechanism is provided whereby the cracker Lsheet is separated into sections or crackers of the desired size and whereby such crackers are distributed into receiving-channels in position for readily being removed in a stacked condition.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cracker separating and assembling machine, the combination with a supportingframework, a feed-frame mounted thereon, of an endless traveling apron in said feed-frame,

. brush-carrying rolls journaled one in rear of the other in said feed-frame and means l'or insuring a contact of the front and the rear brush, a delivery-frame and means for distributing the crackers on said frame in rows.

2. In a cracker separating and assembling machine, the combination with a supportingframework, a feed-frame mounted thereon, and an endless belt running through said feedframe, ol brush-carryin g rolls j ournaled in said frame and means for imparting rotary n1ove+ ment to said brushes and a traveling movement to said apron, rods 17 arranged longitudinally within the forward portion of the feed-frame and between the upper and lower lines of the endless apron, substantially as specified.

3. In a machine for separating and assembling crackers, the combination with a supporting-frame, a feed-frame mounted thereon, an endless apron in said feed-frame and means for imparting a traveling motion thereto, of a distributing-body arranged in front of said feedi'rame and means for imparting a lateral vibratory motion thereto, a discharging-body communicating with said distributing-body and having separated conduits, a delivery-frame arranged below said discharging-body, an endless apron running through said deliveryframe and means for imparting an intermittent traveling motion thereto and longitudinally-arranged parallel bars separating said delivery-frame above said endless apron into channels.

4E. In a cracker separating and assembling machine, the combination with a supportingframework, a feed-frame mounted thereon, rolls in opposite ends or' said feed-frame and sprocket-Wheels carried on one of said rolls, of an endless traveling apron running over said rolls and a chain belt attached to each edge oi' said apron and engaging said sprocket-wheels and a eracker-distributing device to which said apron leads.

5. In a cracker separating and assembling machine, the combination with a supportingframework, afeed-frame mounted thereon, rolls journaled in said feed-frame and sprocketwheels carried on one or more of said rolls, or an endless apron running over said rolls, an endless sprocket-chain on each edge of said apron and rotary brushes mounted above said apron and adapted to depress the latter by contact therewith, substantially as spccilied.

WILLIAM 1l'. BUDI), Jn.

In presence or'- (1. C. Suela-mm), CLIFTON C. EvANs. 

